January 2025 Newsletter

Why Soil Health?

Soil health is the foundation of global food security, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. IFDC’s vision—“Healthier soils and plants for a food-secure and sustainable world”—recognizes that soil is not an infinite resource; it must be actively maintained to support agricultural productivity, water retention, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Without intervention, global soils could degrade by up to 90% by 2050, threatening livelihoods and ecosystems. IFDC prioritizes soil health as a key leverage point, developing innovative nutrient management strategies and strengthening agricultural markets to ensure long-term food security. By investing in soil, we invest in a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.

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January Project Feature: Coalition of Implementors for Fertilizers and Soil Health (CIFSH)

The Coalition of Implementors for Fertilizers and Soil Health (CIFSH) aims to enhance soil health and increase crop productivity in African agroecosystems through responsible fertilizer use. Launched to strengthen sustainable agriculture in Africa, CIFSH leverages collective expertise to address soil health and fertilizer use challenges.

Learn More about the Project.

Relevant Publications

Realizing soil health for food security in Africa

Dramatic improvements in soil health are necessary to increase agricultural production and reduce crop failures. This publication provides recommendations for scaling of soil health and fertility management in Africa through practical approaches to prioritization, evidence-based policy, and effective extension.

Check Out the Journal Article.

Building sustainable soil health, markets, and productivity

The Accelerating Farm Incomes (AFI) project, implemented by IFDC with support from the Walmart Foundation (2019-2024), aimed to improve soil health, market access, and agricultural productivity in Telangana, India. The project focused on entrepreneurship, good agricultural practices, and market linkages.

Read the Final Report.

Recent News and Blogs

Introducing Dr. Zachary Stewart, IFDC's new Vice President of Research

IFDC is very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr.?Zachary P. Stewart as the organization’s new Vice President of Research. Dr. Stewart succeeds Dr.?Upendra Singh, who leaves an enduring legacy at IFDC after more than 30 years of groundbreaking work in soil fertility and systems modeling. IFDC is excited to welcome Dr.?Stewart to the team and looks forward to the vision and expertise he will bring to the organization’s research initiatives.

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Welcome Beatrice Bezmalinovic Dhebar, IFDC Vice President of Business Development

IFDC is delighted to announce that Beatrice Bezmalinovic Dhebar has joined IFDC to lead its business development team. With more than 25 years of experience in global health and development, Bezmalinovic Dhebar brings a wealth of expertise in business development, project management, and consultancy. Her contributions will help advance the organization’s mission to transform agriculture for a sustainable and food-secure world.

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Boosting potato production through quality seeds: Jacqueline’s journey to success

Jacqueline Ndayiziga, a potato farmer in Burundi, once faced low yields and crop disease. Through support from IFDC's Private Seed Sector Development (PSSD) project, her farming story transformed. Switching to high-quality Ndinamagara seeds, Jacqueline saw an incredible leap in productivity—from 22 kg to 125 kg. Now, she’s feeding her family, securing their future, and inspiring others in her community.

Explore Her Story.

African Union adopts 10-year Action Plan to transform Africa’s agrifood systems

The African Union has recently adopted a new agricultural development strategy that will see the continent increase its agrifood output by 45% by 2035 and transform its agrifood systems as part of its new plan to become food secure in a decade. The 10-year CAADP Strategy and Action Plan and the Kampala Declaration were ratified at the Extraordinary Summit on the Post-Malabo CAADP.

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Rehabilitating Kashaasha-Ihunga Road for improved access to markets and trade

The road rehabilitation project in Uganda’s Rubanda District, led by the BRIGHT project, aims to improve farmers' access to markets for their agricultural products. Launched in October 2024, the project is working to upgrade the Kashaasha-Ihunga Road, a crucial route for farmers, residents, and tourists. Previously, poor road conditions hindered transportation, leading to losses for farmers. The rehabilitation is expected to enhance trade, increase agricultural productivity, and support local economic growth.

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IFDC and COMESA partner to enhance agricultural productivity in Africa

On January 21, IFDC and the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialized agency of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability in Africa. This partnership aims to boost the private sector-led supply of quality fertilizers; strengthen agricultural research, policies, and regulations; and increase smallholder farmers’ awareness of fertilizers through training.

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Private Sector Coalition launched to boost African agriculture

The Private Sector and Business Coalition of Implementers has been officially launched in Kampala, Uganda, a landmark step in strengthening food security and enhancing agricultural productivity throughout Africa. The Coalition represents a unified effort by key stakeholders from policy research organizations, financial institutions, business leaders, and industry partners, working in close collaboration with governments, regional organizations, technical and development agencies, and importantly, the fertilizer private sector across the continent.

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Farming forward: The journey of Umar Hussain leading a community transformation

Through support from the HortiNigeria program, Umar Hussain, a resilient farmer, has transformed his community by sharing agricultural techniques such as integrated pest management, mulching, and trellising. Over the years, Umar has trained many farmers, including women and youth, equipping them with practical skills to improve their productivity and income. From a small-scale cereal farmer to a field trainer, Umar has become a catalyst for transformation, inspiring his community to embrace innovation and achieve their full potential.

Access the Story.